Disney Cruise Line announces plans to build two new ships

by byte clay

On March 3, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to add two more cruise ships to Disney Cruise Line. The company has entered into an agreement with Meyer Weft shipyard in Germany.

According to Disney Parks Blog, where the news was first announced, current plans for the two new ships in the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) call for about 1, 250 guest staterooms. And at 135,000 gross tons, the new ships will be slightly larger than the newest ships in the line, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

The ships are scheduled for completion in 2021 and 2023. When complete, DCL will have a total of six ships, all built by Meyer Weft.

Today’s announcement did not include any details about the ships’ design and construction – including their names – or possible cruise destinations and itineraries. Disney notes these plans are still in development, noting “the Walt Disney Imagineering team is already dreaming up exciting new ways to create the world’s most magical oceangoing adventures.”

“We pride ourselves on the unforgettable vacation experiences we deliver to our guests each and every day, and the expansion of our Disney fleet will allow us to create even more magical memories for families at sea and in incredible cruise destinations around the world,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, in a media statement.

Disney Cruise Line first launched in 1998, drawing upon the company’s reputation for offering family travel experiences. DCL ships offer Disney (and Marvel, Muppets, Pixar and “Star Wars”) entertainment, including characters and first-run movies; a rotational dining system in which guests and their assigned dinner servers rotate through the ship’s restaurants together; large and well-appointed staterooms designed with family travel in mind; designated children, tween, teen and and adult spaces,, as well as spaces for the whole family to enjoy together; and elaborate public spaces. DCL also maintains a private island, Disney’s Castaway Cay, for stops during its Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries.

Disney Cruise Line also has been recognized by the cruise industry for its service, ships and innovations. With the launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy in 2011 and 2012, the company introduced several industry firsts, including the AquaDuck water coaster and Magical Portholes for interior staterooms; the latter provides real-time views of the sea as well as images of animated Disney characters.

More details about the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line fleet and its onboard offerings will be announced at a later date.